Collapsible storage assembly

ABSTRACT

A fully-enclosed collapsible storage assembly is disclosed. The storage device is constructed so that upon complete collapse all the elements fall into neat alignment with one another without the necessity of physically removing any member. The instant storage assembly has particular utility in that it is completely collapsible into a compact and easily transportable unit. In addition, the device can be rendered secure for the storage or transportation of expensive items.

United States Patent [19 1' Swick, Jr;

[ 1 Sept. 18, 1973 COLLAPSIBLE STORAGE ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: George E. Swick, Jr., Edina, Minn.

[73] Assignee: TheCoi-nelius Company,

Minneapolis, Minn. 221 Filed: Sept. 27, 1911' [21] Appl.No.: 183,913

52 US. Cl. 312/262 [51] Int. Cl. 1. A471) 43/00, A47b 47/00 [58] Field of Search 312/258, 262

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 463,439 11/1891 Bliss 312/262 497,975 5/1893 Downer 312/258 X 1,276,072 8/1918 'Jelenc; 312/262 1,559,878 11/1925 Humphreys... 312/262 2,494,275 1/1950 Abbott 312/262 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 905,308 11/1944 I France 312/258 Zfl 412,372 7/1910 France 312/258 Primary Examiner-Paul H. Gilliam Attorney-Thomas M. Marshall at al.

57 ABSTRACT A fully-enclosed collapsible storage assembly is disclosed. The storage device is constructed so that upon complete collapse all the elements fall into neat alignment with one another without the necessity of physically removing any member. The instant storage assembly has particular utility in that it is completely collapsible into a compact and easily transportable unit. In addition, the device can be rendered secure for the storage or transportation of expensive items.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 COLLAPSIBLE STORAGE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION them cumbersome and unmaneuverable. In addition,

such structures present a space problem when in an unused state. Furthermore, said prior art devices generally lack versatility with regard to the particular items which require storage; that is, they are incompatible with respect to storage of both large and small items.

Yet another element with respect to storage assemblies is that of security. Generally in the storage or transportation of expensive items such as jewelry or furs, it is required that there be physical security in that the storage area is inaccessible so as to prevent theft. And, further, in some instances visual security is preferred in which case complete enclosure of the storage device is required, especially during transportation, so that potential theft of valuable goods contained therein remains uninvited.

The prior art has confronted the above-mentioned needs of business establishments with regard to storage carts in a number of ways. Therefore, the problem of bulkiness and lack of maneuverability had been confronted by the introduction of collapsible storage carts. However, in order to render storage carts totally collapsible, it has generally been necessary to leave them open on at least one side so as to prevent a multiplicity of elements in the device thereby allowing it to be totally collapsible into a compact and convenient space saving structure. However, when multi-sided, completely enclosed, collapsible structures were constructed, they required either the physical removal of one or more elements of the assembly to render it totally collapsible, or, alternatively, awkward nonalignment with respect to the elements of the totally I collapsed device such that it remained a large cumbersome item. 1

Therefore, it can be readily seen that there is a need for a totally collapsible and transportable storage assembly which has all the advantages of security, maneuverability and versatility.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage assembly which is well adapted for the purposes mentioned above, and which obviates some of the disadvantages of prior art storage devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage assembly which is both fully enclosable and Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a storage assembly which collapses into a compact and maneuverable structure.

BRIEF SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION These and other objects are provided in the present invention which relates to a collapsible storage device comprising an extended rectangular frame having a bottom panel member hingedly connected thereto, a pair of vertical side members hingedly connected to said frame, atleast one shelf member pivotally and movably connected to the sides of the extended frame, and means for detachable securing the bottom and two 'side members to form a partially "enclosed storage area.

Optionally, the collapsible storage cart of the instant invention comprises a frontal panel door member and a top horizontal panel member hingedly connected to the extended rectangular frame to render the structure completely enclosable and secure. The instant storage assembly is completely collapsible without physical removal of any element and in a collapsed condition pres ents a compact structure which is inconspicuous and easily transportable. In a preferred embodiment of the instant storage assembly, wheels or castors are affixed to the structure thereby rendering it readily transportable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagonal perspective illustrating one embodiment of the collapsible storge cart of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present device illustrating a collapsed view of several of its members.

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of the present storage assembly.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the instant storage device.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the present device in its totally collapsed condition. 9

FIG. 6 illustrates one manner of detachable securing the elements of the instant invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The collapsible storage cart shown in FIG. 1 consists of a main extended frame having a backing member to which is attached two rigidly secured vertical side structures 2 and 3 in parallel alignment to one another and of varying widths. The reason for the different widths will become apparent from further description of the invention to be conducted hereinafter. Side members 2 and 3 are rigidly secured to backing member l as by welding or by some other means of rigidly fixing the side elements.

Further reference to FIG. 1 demonstrates a bottom horizontal panel member 4 pivotally connected to both rigid sides 2 and 3 at the base of backing member I for motion relative to the frame. Also connected to the extended rectangular frame is horizontal panel member 5 pivotally connected to both rigid sides 2 and 3 for motion relative to the frame. It is to be noted from FIG. 2 that horizontal panel elements 4 and 5 are pivoted to side 2 and 3 in a differential manner. This is required for parallel alignment of these elements during collapse, the condition of which will be explained hereinafter.

Referringnow to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the collapsible storage device further includes vertical side members 6 and 7 differing widths hingedly connected to side members 2 and 3 which are also of varying widths as explained above. The relative differences in all of the side elements 2, 3, 6, 7 is clearly shown in FIG. 5. The varying width of elements 6 and 7 compensate for the varying width of elements 2 and 3 to give a total width of the same dimension on both sides of the cart (See W of FIG. 1) so as to form a perpendicular plane with horizontal elements 4 and 5 when the side, bottom and top elements are secured as in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The side structures 6 and 7 are connected to the sides of the extended frame 1 by hinges or pivotal connections 8. The bottom and top structures are similarly connected to the side structure of the extended frame by hinges or pivotal connections 9 and 10. As explained above, for purposes of alignment of the bottom and top panel members in the state of collapse, they are differentially diagonally pivoted in the side members 2 and 3 so as to insure a parallel arrangement of these members during total collapse, the mechanism of which will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 5.

Suitable means are provided whereby the outer edges of the bottom and top structures are detachably secured to the outer edges of the side structures. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the means is preferably in the form of a male lip element 11 attached to the unpivoted corners of both bottom and top panel structures which can be inserted into a female U-bar type fastener 12 affixed to the side structures. While FIG. 6 illustrates the fastener l2 and lip element involved in fastening top horizontal member 5, the same principle applies in securing bottom panel element 4. When the side, bottom and top structures are detachably secured together, a vertically extended storage space is formed which is open at the front. It is to be understood that any means for detachably securing the side, bottom and top elements may be used in constructing the collapsible storage assembly of the instant invention.

Also included in the present storage assembly are shelve members 13 and 14 which are demonstrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The shelf structures 13 and 14 are pivotally and movably mounted to the rigid side structures of the extended frame by means of horizontally elongated slots l5 and 16 so as to insure horizontal movement of the shelve structures with respect to the frame. As is clearly shown in FIG. 2, this allows a shelf structure to be pulled horizontally to the extreme of its pivot slot thereby carrying its lip or other catch device 17 free and clear of from its fastener device 18, attached to the side of the cart, and allowing it to swing freely to a vertical position. In addition, FIG. 2 also shows that horizontal pivotal slots and 16 are of different elongated widths so as to allow differential pivoting and therefore insure parallel alignment of the two shelves in a collapsed condition. As in the case of the bottom and top panel members, shelve elements 13 and 14 require a means of detachably securing the shelves to side members 6 and 7. However, the shelf securing means in combination with the shelf must function to enable securing with sides 6 and 7 and also bypass side fastening elements 18 when the shelf is horizontally extended to the end of its pivot. This latter function allows the shelf to swing freely to its vertical collapsed position.

Reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 demonstrate a frontal panel door structure 19 hingedly attached to one side of the storage assembly for motion relative to the frontal plane of the storage assembly. The door may be fastened to the side element by simple spaced hinge members 21 or other pivotal means such as hinge means 8 shown for side 6 in FIG. 2. In addition, the door element in FIG. 3 is shown with a sliding bolt locking means 22 for permanently locking the storage device. Door element 19 also has attached thereto a flange element 20, which upon closure of the element, insures total security in that the flange element overlaps top horizontal element 5 thereby preventing any attempt to lift horizontal element 5 and gain entrance to the storage area. The function of the flange element is more graphically demonstrated by the dotted line in FIG. 4.

In a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the collapsible storage device is mounted on wheels or castors as demonstrated in FIG. 1 where two pair of ground engaging wheels are mounted upon the lower portion of the assembly to render it a mobile and transportable storage cart. Of course, other techniques may be used to render the collapsible storage device transportable as, for example, the storage device may be simply placed on a roller platform.

It is to be understood that the elements of the instant structure may be of many differential materials. Therefore, the storage assembly members may be steel, aluminum, or some other metal. And further, the present storage assembly can be constructed from synthetic materials such as strong plastic elements. If visual security is a requirement then the elements of the device.

must be solid faced thereby hiding any contents. Otherwide the device could include open elements much as wire mesh or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the collapsibility of the present assembly can be easily demonstrated. In FIG. 1, horizontal'bottom element 4 is merely picked up and swung about its pivot 10 to the rear of rectangular element 1 where it aligns parallel to backing member 1 (see FIG. 5). Thereafter, shelf element 14 is uplifted from its secured position and pulled horizontally to the extreme of its movable pivot in notch 16 whereupon it is motioned down in a resting vertical position parallel to bottom element 4 in the extended rectangular frame structure. Shelf element 13 is aligned parallel to member 14 in the same manner as demonstrated in FIG. 2, that is, by pulling it horizontally and allowing it to swing down. Finally, horizontal top element 5 is uplifted from its secured position whereupon side walls 6 and 7 freely swing outward thereby allowing panel member 5 to swing about its pivot 9 in a vertical resting position parallel to elements l3, l4 and 4 in the rectangular frame. Note in FIG. 2 that top member 5 in a vertical collapsed condition extends above the top horizontal plane of the secured structure. Longer side 6 then folds inward parallel to elements 5, l3, l4 and 4 and thereafter door element 19 and shorter side element 7 are folded about in a parallel fashion, thus completing the fully collapsible state illustrated in FIG. 5. Of course, the reverse order of steps is required for reconstruction of the assembly.

The collapsible storage cart described above has a number of desirable features. Therefore, as is apparent, shelves l3 and 14 may be independently collapsed thereby forming a larger storage space for big items, such as clothing and the like. This particular advantage is invaluable to public transportation businesses which require on-the-spot versatility to accommodate small and/or large items. In addition, of course, the lower shelf 14 can be collapsed independently of upper shelf transported upon collapse of the shelve elements.

Although. the invention has been particularly described with reference to the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that said embodiments have been described for illustrative purposes only and that many changes and modifications in said embodiments will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates, all such embodiments falling within the scope of the claims now following.

What is claimed:

1. A collapsible storage assembly comprising:

a. a vertically extending, generally rectangular, U-

shaped main frame including a backing member to which is rigidly secured a pair of vertical side structures, said pair of vertical side structures including opposed, generally horizontal elongated slots;

b. a pair of vertical side members hingedly connected to the side structures of the main frame for motion relative to the mainframe;

c. a bottom, generally rectangular, horizontal shelf member pivotally connected along one edge about a horizontal axis to said vertical side structures adjacent the lower end of the main frame for movement to a collapsed position generally parallel to said vertically extending backing member;

d. a top, generally rectangular, horizontal shelf member pivotally connected along an axis intermediate its length about a horizontal axis to said vertical side structures adjacent the upper end of said main frame for movement to a collapsed position generally parallel to said vertically extending backing member;

e. at least one intermediate, generally rectangular horizontal shelf member, means connecting said intermediate shelf member to the vertical side structures and being disposed in said opposed elongated slots to enable pivotal and slidable movement of said intermediate shelf member relative to said main frame in such manner that said intermediate horizontal shelf member may be collapsed to a generally vertical position wherein said intermediate horizontal shelf member overlaps the collapsed top I and bottom shelves and is parallel to and intermediate said top and bottom shelves;

f. means for detachably securing the side structures to said top, bottom and intermediate shelves; and

g. a frontal door panel hingedly connected to one of the movable vertical side structures.

2. A collapsible storage assembly as in claim 1 including two intermediate, generally rectangular horizontal shelf members, each of which is pivotally and slidably connected along one edge thereof to said vertical side structures.

3. A collapsible storage assembly as in claim 1 wherein the rigid vertical side structures and the vertical side members are of varying widths so as to form two sides of equal width when secured.

4. A collapsible storage assembly as in claim 3 in which the frontal door panel has a locking means for securing said doorto the adjacent moveable vertical side structure, and wherein said door panel further includes a top flange element which, upon closure of the frontal door panel, prevents the top horizontal shelf from being collapsed to a generally vertical position.

5. A collapsible storage assembly as in claim 1 further including wheel means connected to the lower portions vertical side members. 

1. A collapsible storage assembly comprising: a. a vertically extending, generally rectangular, U-shaped main frame including a backing member to which is rigidly secured a pair of vertical side structures, said pair of vertical side structures including opposed, generally horizontal elongated slots; b. a pair of vertical side members hingedly connected to the side structures of the main frame foR motion relative to the main frame; c. a bottom, generally rectangular, horizontal shelf member pivotally connected along one edge about a horizontal axis to said vertical side structures adjacent the lower end of the main frame for movement to a collapsed position generally parallel to said vertically extending backing member; d. a top, generally rectangular, horizontal shelf member pivotally connected along an axis intermediate its length about a horizontal axis to said vertical side structures adjacent the upper end of said main frame for movement to a collapsed position generally parallel to said vertically extending backing member; e. at least one intermediate, generally rectangular horizontal shelf member, means connecting said intermediate shelf member to the vertical side structures and being disposed in said opposed elongated slots to enable pivotal and slidable movement of said intermediate shelf member relative to said main frame in such manner that said intermediate horizontal shelf member may be collapsed to a generally vertical position wherein said intermediate horizontal shelf member overlaps the collapsed top and bottom shelves and is parallel to and intermediate said top and bottom shelves; f. means for detachably securing the side structures to said top, bottom and intermediate shelves; and g. a frontal door panel hingedly connected to one of the movable vertical side structures.
 2. A collapsible storage assembly as in claim 1 including two intermediate, generally rectangular horizontal shelf members, each of which is pivotally and slidably connected along one edge thereof to said vertical side structures.
 3. A collapsible storage assembly as in claim 1 wherein the rigid vertical side structures and the vertical side members are of varying widths so as to form two sides of equal width when secured.
 4. A collapsible storage assembly as in claim 3 in which the frontal door panel has a locking means for securing said door to the adjacent moveable vertical side structure, and wherein said door panel further includes a top flange element which, upon closure of the frontal door panel, prevents the top horizontal shelf from being collapsed to a generally vertical position.
 5. A collapsible storage assembly as in claim 1 further including wheel means connected to the lower portions of said vertical extending main frame and said pair of vertical side members. 